The Wordslinger Podcast

It's all about the story.

Author: It's all about the story here.

From award-winning and bestselling author Kevin Tumlinson, this weekly podcast explores the stories that shape us into who we are, and shape the world into what it can become. It's all about the story here. kevintumlinson.substack.com
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Arts, Business, Entrepreneurship

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

The Problem with Draft2Digital’s New Policy
Thursday, 16 April, 2026

Draft2Digital just made a major change—and a lot of indie authors aren’t happy about it. In today’s Wordslinger 10-Shot, I break down the new Draft2Digital fees, what they actually mean, and why I believe this policy creates a serious problem for the very authors the platform was built to support. This isn’t outrage for the sake of outrage. It’s a real conversation about fairness, access, and the future of indie publishing in an era of AI-driven content overload. If you’re a writer, creator, or creative entrepreneur, this directly impacts you. Let’s dig in. What Draft2Digital’s new fees actually are Why the $12 annual fee is sparking backlash The real issue: who pays (and who doesn’t) How this affects new and low-earning authors The AI “slop” problem—and why this is happening now Practical advice on what you should do next 00:00 – The big Draft2Digital announcement01:10 – Breaking down the new fees02:15 – Why the optics are a problem04:20 – Who really ends up paying06:45 – The “tax on low earners” issue09:00 – AI spam and the real reason behind the change12:30 – Why this could push authors away15:10 – My stance (and why it matters)18:00 – What authors should do right now20:30 – Final thoughts on the future of indie publishing 🌐 Wordslinger Podcasthttps://wordslingerpodcast.com ✍️ ProWriting Aid (my go-to editing tool)https://tidd.ly/3NCdlk5 📖 Draft2Digitalhttps://draft2digital.com/wordslinger ⚓ AuthorAnchorhttps://authoranchor.com 📘 My books & author sitehttps://kevintumlinson.com 📰 Join me on Substackhttps://kevintumlinson.substack.com If you're serious about building a career as a writer—whether indie, traditional, or hybrid—this channel is where you’ll get real talk, hard truths, and practical strategies to help you succeed. 👉 Subscribe now for guidance on writing, publishing, and building a sustainable author business. What do YOU think about Draft2Digital’s new policy?Fair move… or a step in the wrong direction? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I read them. #indieauthors #selfpublishing #writingcommunity #draft2digital #amwriting 🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:⏱️ Timestamps:📚 Resources & Links Mentioned:🚀 Want More Like This?💬 Join the Conversation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices